IELTS Score for Australia 2025: Top Universities, Student Visa, Work and PR

The required IELTS score for Australia depends on the purpose for which you are planning to migrate to Australia. For university admissions generally top-tier universities require a IELTS band score of 7.0 with individual score not dipping below 6.5. For getting an Australian visa minimum IELTS band score of 6.0 is required and for getting PR, a band score of 7.0 is required. 

IELTS is a popular significant measure of the English proficiency for non-native English speakers. Holding accreditation from over 1000 Australian institutions, IELTS score is the key factor for various processes like university admissions, obtaining visas, employment and getting a PR in Australia. Discover more about the requisite IELTS band scores, Australian Band Requirements for leading universities, and the significance of IELTS scores for study, work, and PR attainment below. 

What is the Good IELTS Band Score Required for Australia?

In Australia, a good IELTS score for university admission stands at 7.0 overall, with no individual band score dipping below 6.5. However, it's important to note that each Australian university may set varying minimum IELTS score requirements for different courses. A high IELTS Australia score doesn't guarantee admission but they serve as an important factor for consideration, enhancing your chances of acceptance. Unlike some exams, there's no specific "pass" score for the IELTS. If you feel dissatisfied with your score, IDP offers a special One Skill Retake (OSR) option tailored for Australia, allowing you to reattempt any one section within 60 days of your original exam without retaking the entire test.

For undergraduate (UG) programs in Australia, the minimum IELTS band score requirement typically hovers around 6.0 overall, with no sub-score falling below 6.0. Meanwhile, for postgraduate(PG) programs, a minimum band score of 6.5 is often sought, with individual sub-scores not dropping below 6.0. Aspiring PhD students aiming to study in Australia generally need to secure an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher. While a score of 6.5 and above is the commonly accepted minimum across universities, approximately 42 institutions may consider applicants with a score of 5.5 in any of the speaking, listening, reading, or writing sections. The subsequent section delves into the detailed band requirements for prominent and leading Australian universities.

What are the IELTS Band Requirements for Top Australian Universities?

The top Australian universities require an IELTS score between 6.5 - 7. Below we have listed the universities that fall under the above said band score.

IELTS Band Requirements for Top Australian Universities
S.No	Australian University	IELTS Overall Score	IELTS Listening Score	IELTS Speaking Score	IELTS Reading Score	IELTS Writing Score
1	University of Sydney	7	6	6	6	6
2	University of New South Wales	7	6	6	6	6
3	Carnegie Mellon University	-	6.5	6	6.5	6
4	University of Technology Sydney	6.5	-	-	-	6
5	Australian National University	6.5	6	6	6	6
6	Western Sydney University	6.5	6	6	6	6
7	University of Western Australia	6.5	6	6	6	6
8	University of Queensland	6.5	6	6	6	6
9	University of Canberra	6.5	6	6	6	6
10	University of Melbourne	6.5	6	6	6	6
11	University of Notre Dame	6.5	6	6	6	6
12	Monash University	6.5	6	6	6	6
13	Macquarie University	6.5	6	6	6	6
14	RMIT University	6.5	6	6	6	6
15	University of Technology	6.5	6	6	6	6
16	Bond University	6.5	6	6	6	6
17	Griffith University	6.5	6	6	6	6
18	Curtin University	6.5	6	6	6	6
19	Monash University	6.5	6	6	6	6
20	Macquarie University	6.5	6	6	6	6
21	The University of Divinity	6.5	6	6	6	6
22	University of Adelaide	6.5	6	6	6	6
23	RMIT University	6.5	6	6	6	6
24	University of Canberra	6.5	6	6	6	6

What are the IELTS Band Requirements for Popular Australian Universities?

Australian Universities open doors for International Students who have an IELTS score of 6-5.5. Though not all universities accept this score, it is always better to ensure before applying to the below universities.

IELTS Band Requirements for Popular Australian Universities
1	Charles Darwin University	6	6	6	6	6
2	Federation University	6	6	6	6	6
3	Edith Cowan University	6	6	6	6	6
4	Deakin University	6	6	6	6	6
5	Federation University	6	6	6	6	6
6	James Cook University	6	6	6	6	6
7	Flinders University	6	-	6	-	6
8	Murdoch University	6	6	6	6	6
9	La Trobe University	6	6	6	6	6
10	Swinburne University of Technology	6	6	6	6	6
11	University of Newcastle	6	6	6	6	6
12	University of South Australia	6	-	-	6	6
13	Victoria University	6	6	6	6	6
14	Australian Catholic University	6	5.5	6	5.5	6
15	Torrens University Australia	6	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5
16	University of New England	6	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5
17	CQ University	6	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5
18	Charles Sturt University	6	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5
19	Southern Cross University	6	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5
20	University of Southern Queensland	6	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5
21	University of the Sunshine Coast	6	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5
22	University of Tasmania	6	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5
23	University of Wollongong	6	5	5	6	6

How to Send the IELTS Score to Multiple Australian Universities?

Sending your IELTS score to Australian universities is a critical step in the application process. IDP, the authoritative board for IELTS, offers students the opportunity to send their scores to up to 5 universities of their choice for free. These universities must have been selected during the exam registration process.

Typically, it takes about 13 days to receive your Test Report Format (TRF) after the results are announced. You can collect your TRF card from your nearest IDP office in India.

Here's a step-by-step guide to sending your IELTS scores to universities:

Step 1: Create an account on the IDP IELTS website (https://www.ieltsidpindia.com/).
Step 2: Log in with your credentials.
Step 3: Once logged in, navigate to the "Request a Test Report Form" link.
Step 4: You can view your results and access the electronic TRF (eTRF) under the Declared Result column.
Step 5: Select the universities to which you want to send your scores from the provided list or search for them and select.
Step 6: Fill in your application details and payment information.
Step 7: Submit the details and wait for your scores to be sent to the chosen universities.

It's important to note that if results are electronically transferred, it takes 5 business days, while it takes 5-10 business days if sent via post. Sending the eTRF to the first 5 universities is free of charge. However, there's a fee of INR 250 for each additional university beyond the initial five.

What is the IELTS Score Required for an Australian Student Visa?

For Australian Student visa applications, the required IELTS scores are as follows:

• For undergraduate programs, a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.0 is necessary, with no individual band score lower than 5.5.
• For graduate courses, an overall IELTS score of 6.5 is required, with each individual band score not falling below 6.0.
• Certain fields like teaching, education studies, and engineering demand a higher minimum overall IELTS score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 7.0 in each band.

It's important to note that for an IELTS score to be considered valid for visa purposes, it must have been obtained within the last two years. Therefore, it's advisable to plan your test-taking and visa application timeline accordingly.

What is the IELTS Score to Work in Australia?

Following graduation, if you aim to pursue work opportunities in Australia, an IELTS score is imperative to secure a work visa. This serves as evidence of your proficient English language skills, essential for effective communication in the workplace. The IELTS score requirements vary depending on the type of visa:

• For Skilled Independent and Skilled Nomination Visas, a minimum overall score of 6.0, as well as individual section scores, is necessary.
• For a Temporary Graduate visa, a score of at least 6.0 overall is required, with a minimum of 5.0 in each section.
• Lastly, to obtain a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa, a minimum score of 4.5 overall, with at least 4.5 in each of the four parts, is mandatory.

What is the IELTS Score Required to Get an Australian PR?

To obtain Permanent Residency (PR) in Australia, you must also present an IELTS score as part of your visa application. Australia follows a point-based system for PR applications. Applicants receive 0 points if their IELTS score falls below 6.0, rendering them ineligible for migration to Australia. Those with an IELTS score exceeding band 7.0 or an overall score above 7.0 earn 10 immigration points, while achieving band 8.0 or higher yields a maximum of 20 points in Australia's immigration point system.

However, besides the IELTS score, your eligibility for Australian PR hinges on various factors such as age, health, educational background, among others. A minimum of 65 points is required to qualify for an Australian PR visa.

Conclusion

Therefore, the IELTS score for Australia plays a pivotal role in shaping your journey to study in Australia. These scores are indispensable for obtaining your student visa, serving as a key component of university applications, securing permanent employment, and ultimately obtaining permanent residency (PR). Each purpose necessitates specific IELTS score requirements, yet a superior score of 7.0 and above fulfills all objectives. To attain this exceptional band score, Kanan International offers comprehensive assistance with IELTS test preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is IELTS preferred by Australian Education Institutions?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a way for people from all over the world to prove they have strong English language and literacy skills. It is an English language proficiency test. Many English-speaking countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK require an IELTS score for student visa and migration purposes. They just want to make sure that you will be able to function properly in their country without having a language problem. Being able to communicate effectively is the key to having a good study period or working situation. That is why an IELTS score is mandatory for the countries mentioned above.

2. What is the IELTS Australia Score Validity?

The IELTS score is valid up to two years from the date of the exam in Australia. This score is valid for every purpose like university admissions, student visa, work and to get a PR in Australia.

3. How much does it cost to take the IELTS test?

The cost of taking the IELTS exam in the India centres is INR 17,000. The cost is the same for both IELTS General and Academic tests. If you wish to take the IELTS exam in the IDP Australian centre then the fee is 395 AUD (21,000 INR).

4. Is 5.5 IELTS score accepted in Australia?

A 5.5 IELTS test score is accepted in a very few universities in Australia. A score of 6.5 and above is expected in most top universities. To consider your application with an IELTS score of 5.5, then you must have a very convincing portfolio and English as a medium of instruction.

5. Can I go to Australia without IELTS?

You can visit Australia without any English test. However, to study in Australia or to get a Permanent Residency (PR) generally you need to have an IELTS score. But not to worry, there are alternatives too. You can take other tests instead of IELTS to prove your English proficiency. These tests include:

• Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL IBT)
• Cambridge English Advanced Test (CAE)
• Occupational English Test (OET)

These test scores are also valid to get a student visa to Australia.